Battletested with Tanya Acker

Over the last decade, our Internet experience has become increasingly dictated by algorithms- data-driven equations that try to anticipate (and elicit) our desires. The problem is, they often get it wrong. The math doesn't math. Kyle Chayka (staff writer,The New Yorker) has written a new book on the subject entitled "Filterworld." This week, Tanya and Kyle talk about this ever-tightening web woven...

Tanya talks to the Emmy Award-winning television show host and best-selling author about her latest novel, Watch Where They Hide, and how she's plotted her own life’s path.

Tanya and the podcaster, journalist, filmmaker and advocate talk about how he is “proof of concept” about the benefits of opportunity and inclusion. Listen as they discuss justifiable fears; not fearing too much; and how to change lives, communities, and cultures - all while growing the tax base!

This week the Senate pressed chief executives of Meta, TikTok, X, Snap and Discord over what lawmakers are calling “a crisis in America” -- accusing the tech giants of ignoring the harmful content against children on their respective platforms. It's a conversation we first had on this program back in November of last year, when Tanya sat down with Zamaan Qureshi (a college student a...

Tanya talks to Ann Druyan about space, love, facts, and voting. Plus, how to come back when people laugh at you for being smart and curious.

Tanya talks to the filmmaker about her latest film, reclaiming the narrative of what it means to be an American, and why hope always must win. 

For 35 years Oliver James was functionally illiterate - even though he had a high school diploma. Listen to what happened when he decided to stop mimicking life and start living it.

Tanya talks to the directors of the film  Invisible Beauty , which tells the life story of the groundbreaking Bethann Hardison. From emulating the strength of the Samurai, to insisting that fashion is more than just one type, to reminding us to vote, Bethann’s story is many things all at once.

Tanya talks to Zamaan Qureshi, a college student co-founder of Design It For Us, about the campaign to make social media safer for young people, and his lawsuit against the SEC.

Tanya talks to artist, illustrator and entrepreneur Angie Quintanilla Coates about the art of keeping us on the bright side. (Original air date: April 7th, 2022)

This week Tanya talks to Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) about the war in Ukraine, our relationship with China, the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas and the resulting war in Gaza. They also discuss in-office sit-ins, the threatened brawls on Capitol Hill and, for a pleasant change, civil discourse with a political opponent. Tanya and Ro cover a lot so don’t miss this!

Tanya talks to the lawyers who helped Dominion Voting Systems achieve a $787 million settlement in its defamation case against Fox News over false claims of a “stolen” election. When is the lie someone tells, or spreads, worth money? When should you just move on?

Tanya talks to the history-making justice about the family tragedy that led her to the bench, and busting through other people’s assumptions to do what you must. (Original air date: 3/22/23)

Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of the now bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX, faces up to 100 years in jail for his role in one of the biggest financial frauds on record. In this re-release, Tanya talks to journalist Sylvan Lane, Finance and Economic Policy Reporter at The Hill, about how cryptocurrency works and what happened at FTX. (Originally aired: 12/22)

Tanya talks to Rebecca Kiessling about loss, healing, and fighting the fentanyl crisis.

While Uvalde remains a community that mourns, heals, and remembers its victims, it is also a community that moved Albert Martinez to drive 140 miles to teach music at Uvalde High School. This is the story of how he got a group of unlikely musicians to open up, and how they all brought victory and triumph to Uvalde.

Tanya talks to the author of Major Labels: A History of Popular Music in Seven Genres, about the significance of musical genres; our fandom and our tastes; and some of music’s most powerful moments.

Tanya talks to Karen Harvey, author of The Imposteress Rabbit Breeder: Mary Toft and Eighteenth-Century England

Tanya talks to Matthew Goodman, author of The Sun and the Moon: The Remarkable True Account of Hoaxers, Showmen, Dueling Journalists and Lunar Man-Bats in Nineteenth Century New York . The story is crazier than you can believe and no description here will do it justice. Enjoy the show.

Tanya talks to Alabama House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels about voting rights, building relationships across party lines, and new ideas for helping working people get a leg up.

9-yr old Grayson Roberts was born with little sight but great vision and an extraordinary mother, Terica. Listen as they talk about what it means to be “limitless.” 

Tanya talks to the Kool And The Gang frontman about being the most sampled group in hip hop; how the music business has changed over the years; music education for kids; and, making champagne.

Diana Grossman of Mallory’s Army Foundation talks to Tanya about her daughter Mallory’s legacy and what we all can learn from it.

Janelle Wood founded Black Mothers Forum to address concerns about how schools were treating Black children. Listen as she and Shannon Hayes talk about the alternative option BMF offers to all children, in the hope of providing a better educational experience.

For 35 years Oliver James was functionally illiterate - even though he had a high school diploma. Listen to what happened when he decided to stop mimicking life and start living it.